Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua/The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court (AODTC) in New Zealand
The AODT Court case study is part of a research programme funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund investigating the development, current practices, and underlying philosophy of therapeutic specialist courts in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
One of the AODTC teams in New Zealand with Judge Peggy Hora (Ret.)
As part of this research programme, four case studies were conducted on Te Kooti Rangatahi o Hoani Waititi and the Te Kooti o Timatanga Hou/New Beginnings Court in Auckland District Court.
The wider specialist court movement is also considered through interviews with relevant judges of this movement nationally and an analysis of local literature, political digests and media.
From this, the authors hope to show how therapeutic courts are characteristically framed from a variety of sources and interpret what this framing says about shifting societal understandings of suitable responses to significant social problems in New Zealand.
First Summary Report
Ngā Whenu Raranga/Weaving strands: #1
Ngā Whenu Raranga/Weaving strands: #1 is the first of four summary reports from a case study that aimed to explore the meaning and application of the term ‘therapeutic’ in Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua/The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court (AODT Court). This report outlines four strands that, when carefully woven together, comprise the therapeutic framework of the AODT Court. These have been interpreted as four strands: (1) Pango/Law, (2) KŌwhai/U.S. Best Practice, (3) Mā/Recovery and (4) Whero/Lore. Drawing on interviews with AODT Court team members, courtroom observations, relevant documentation and international drug court best practice literature, this report describes each of the four strands.
Introduction, pg. 3
Read the report HERE
NGA When Raranga / Weaving Strands
Second Summary Report
NGA When Raranga / Weaving Strands
Ngā Whenu Raranga/Weaving strands: #2
Ngā raranga whenu/Weaving strands: #2 is the second summary report from our case study that aimed to explore the meaning and application of the term ‘therapeutic’ in Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua/The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court (AODT Court). This report describes the therapeutic framework Ngā raranga whenu/weaving strands in action. In doing so, the report recognises that the weaving of the four strands of Pango/Law, KŌwhai/ U.S. Best Practice, Mā/Recovery and Whero/Lore that constitute the therapeutic framework is a simultaneously philosophical and practical endeavour. In this report, we provide qualitative descriptions of the processes of the AODT Court which draw on interviews with AODT Court professionals and our observation of pre-court meetings and open court sittings. The report also includes de-identified examples of writing from AODT Court participants and sentencing decisions of AODT Court judges to bring to life the three phases of this court. The triangulation of data sources means the report is grounded in the reality of those professionals, and to some extent, participants involved in the AODT Court processes.
Introduction, pg. 8
Read the report HERE
Third Summary Report
Ngā Whenu Raranga/Weaving strands: #3
Ngā raranga whenu/Weaving strands: #3 is the third summary report from case-study based research that aimed to explore the meaning and application of the term ‘therapeutic’ in the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court (AODT Court). This report describes the therapeutic framework Ngā raranga whenu/weaving strands in action. In doing so, this report recognises the weaving of the four strands of Pango/Law, KŌwhai/U.S. Best Practice, Mā/Recovery and Whero/Lore that constitute the therapeutic framework is a simultaneously philosophical and practical endeavour. Qualitative descriptions are introduced to demonstrate the roles of AODT Court team, their teamwork and the wider collaboration that occurs with key stakeholders. The roles of the tūruturu/court coordinators, aho poka/case managers, whakamata/defence counsel, aho tāhuhu/police prosecutors, kaitiaki/pou oranga, kaiwhatu/judges and whatu aho rua/peer support workers are also described. Throughout these sections there is specific focus on the interactions that occur between professionals and the report also briefly illustrates ngā ratonga/the wider community that
supports the AODT Court to highlight the large network of professionals that assist the AODT Court team.
Introduction, pg. 7
Read the report HERE
NGA When Raranga / Weaving Strands
Fourth Summary Report
NGA When Raranga / Weaving Strands
Ngā Whenu Raranga/Weaving strands: #4
Ngā Whenu Raranga/Weaving strands: #4 is the final summary report from our case study that aimed to explore the meaning and application of the term ‘therapeutic’ in Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua/The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court (AODT Court). Drawing on interviews with AODT Court team members, courtroom observations, relevant documentation and international drug court best practice literature, this report considers some of the challenges to the therapeutic framework underpinning the AODT Court. Suggestions are also provided to enhance the future developments of the AODT Court, and other therapeutic interventions at the criminal justice interface.
Introduction, pg. 6
Read the report HERE
Images from New Zealand AOTDC
